28 Mr E. Kidston on tJu 



Geranium songuineum, Liun. — Near Burnmoutli. 

 Hyoscynmus niyer, Linn. Do. 



Viola hirta, Linn. Do. 



On the Affinities of the Genus Potliocites, Paterson; loith 

 the Description of a Specimen from Glencartholm, 

 Eshdale. By Egbert Kidston, F.G.S. (Plates L-IV.) 



(Read 8th March 1883.) 



[This paper, which is slightly ahridgeJ, appeared in 

 full in the Annals and 3Iagnzine of Natural History, May 

 1883, p. 297. It is one of two competing essays for the 

 Botanical Society's Students' Prize, of £10 which was 

 equally divided.] 



The genus W'as founded by Dr Paterson* for the recep- 

 tion of a curious fossil collected by him "in a mass of 

 bituminous shale from the coal strata which are exposed 

 along the coast at Granton, and nearly opposite Professor 

 Hope's residence." 



Dr Paterson, in an earlier part of his paper, expresses 

 his opinion that his specimen belonged to the class of para- 

 sitic plants. 



He also directs special attention " to a slight enlargement 

 of the stem abruptly broken off, very similar, in fact, to 

 what we see in twigs from which the leaves have fallen off, 

 and is evidently to be referred to the remains of a deciduous 

 leaf or spatha " f 



In regard to the stellate bodies, situated in longitudinal 

 rows on the spike, he further says J, *' When viewed with a 

 lens, these small bodies are seen crowned with from four to 

 five (generally four) ovoid and obtuse projections, with 

 elevated edges; these assume a quadrangular appearance, and 

 give the idea of a germeu or capsule, crowned with four or 

 five obtuse angles. The central depression, to which the 

 flowering part of the plant had been attached, is also 

 distinctly to be seen." 



The view held by Dr Paterson that this plant " eithei 



* Paterson, "Description of Pothocites Grantonii, a new Fossil Vegetable 

 from the Coal Formation," Trans. Bot. Edin., vol. i. p. 45, pi. iii., 1841. 

 t Loc. cit., p. 46. :;: Ihid. 



